Champagnes & Sparkling Wines for New Year's Eve

by Esther Sung

on 12/27/11 at 09:00 AM

Ted Loos' most recent Tasting Notes column focuses on Champagne, the glorious, effervesent wine that is generally associated with ringing in New Year's and giving wedding toasts. His list includes some of the better-known producers that you're probably familiar with--Nicolas Feuillatte, Perrier-Jouët, Veuve Clicquot, and Tattinger, just to name a few.

There are, of course, so many more Champagne producers, of which some are not so easy to find. A well-stocked wine shop generally carries the usual suspects. There's also the Internet, but that can be tricky due to interstate commerce laws. That said, if you're in the hunt for Champagnes that aren't so easy to come by, check out Henri's Reserve. It's not the most user-friendly site (no search?) but with a focus that's solely on Champagne, fans of the bubbly can procure bottles from producers such as Dumangin and Jean-Milan.

Of course, not everyone drinks Champagne, per se, and there are plenty of good, fun-to-drink sparkling wines. That said, because I know my limits, I pace myself with small drink servings even on a night like New Year's Eve. Available year-round, the Mini Sofia Blanc de Blancs from Francis Coppola Winery can dress up the occasion with its festive pink packaging. And unlike a bottle that doesn't get finished or somehow gets warm, individual servings of the sparkling wine can help extend the celebration. But if you're looking for a bottle that lets you recork successfully, check out Yellow Tail's Zork. The resealable top allows you to maintain the gas pressure in between pours so that the sparkling wine truly stays sparkling.